‘Town centre violence falling due to crunch’

Businesses may rue the day the credit crunch started but for police it has proved rather more beneficial.

Violent assaults in the town centre have fallen dramatically since the start of the recession.

Reading town centre’s top neighbourhood officer, Inspector Rob Murray, said he believed the average number of people visiting the town centre on a Saturday night was now about 15,000.

A few years ago – when police did an official head count – it was closer to 20,000. But high unemployment and financial woes have led to people staying in.

Insp Murray said: “Fewer people are coming into Reading town centre at night because of the credit crunch.

“Partly because of this violent crime is down.

“There are fewer instances of trouble which is often related to drink.

“We haven’t done an official head count for a few years so it is all anecdotal, but there does seem to be fewer people in the town centre at night.”

Police have long been keen to eliminate violence among boozed-up revellers. Incidents include one in August 2008 when a group of thugs set upon Woodley soldier Kyle Boothroyd outside Reading train station and “kangaroo jumped” him on the head.

They were jailed at Reading Crown Court following this incident.

Meanwhile a scrap in a town centre takeaway in March 2008 saw Arborfield man Paul Marshall’s jaw being smashed.

Doorwatch

Three months in, ‘Doorwatch’ – a scheme set up by the police and supported by many Reading security staff – is going well.

Door staff and police work together to pinpoint potential troublemakers and problems in the town centre.

Insp Murray said he was delighted by the scheme’s progress.

“It is going well,” he said.

“It is a really good way to stay in touch with people working in bars and clubs and enables both the police and the door staff to know what is going on.”